At a glance

Indian government told the apex court on Friday that "in the interest of the nation" it has decided not to damage the 'Ram Sethu' bridge for navigation of huge ships between India's east and Sri Lanka.The Union Ministry of Shipping said that it has decided to explore an alternative to earlier alignment of the Sethusamudram Ship Channel project without affecting the Ram Sethu, a chain of limestone shoals off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu."The government of India intends to explore an alternative to the earlier alignment of Sethusamudram Ship Channel project without affecting/damaging the Adam's Bridge/Ram Sethu in the interest of the nation," the affidavit stated. "Considering the socio-economic disadvantages of alignment number 6, the government doesn't want to implement the said alignment."Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for the Centre, told the court that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy's PIL against the Sethusamudram project can now … [Read more...] about Is Ram Sethu bridge between India-Sri Lanka man made or natural? Key facts at a glance

Grab Thailand has provided 2,000 face masks to motorcycle taxi drivers in Bangkok’s central business district areas to reduce the negative health impacts of Bangkok’s air pollution. The drivers will also pass the masks to their passengers. The masks, of N95 standard, are capable of blocking at least 95 per cent of tiny airborne particles 0.3 microns in diameter. Vee Charununsiri, head of Business Development of Grab Thailand, said: “We have concerns for the health of motorcycle taxi drivers who are frequently exposed to city’s air pollution as they spend an average of 10 hours working on the road. Many of them are our GrabBike driver-partners and we are committed to improve their livelihood. The N95 masks will also be offered to passengers to reduce the exposure to urban air pollution.” In late January 2018, Thailand’s capital experienced smog over a period of several days. According to the Pollution Control Department, Bangkok’s … [Read more...] about At A Glance

By AFP Gwadar, Pakistan – Remote and impoverished, Pakistan’s Gwadar port at first glance seems an unlikely crown jewel in a multi-billion-dollar development project with China aimed at constructing a 21st century Silk Road. Situated on a barren peninsula in the Arabian Sea, Gwadar, or the “gate of the wind,” owes its fortuitous selection as Pakistan’s next economic hub to its strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz. The city is set to become the bridgehead for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $54-billion project launched in 2013 linking western China to the Indian Ocean via Pakistan. The corridor is one of the largest projects in Beijing’s “One Belt One Road” initiative, comprising a network of roads and sea routes involving 65 countries. The Chinese-financed initiative aims to connect the country with Africa, Asia and Europe through a vast network of ports, railways, roads and industrial parks. But for Pakistan, … [Read more...] about At a forgotten Pakistan’s Gwadar port, China paves a new Silk Road corridor

“Where do we eat? #Saantayokakain?” It is amusing how a very innocent question has evolved into one that is most difficult to answer, especially when it is directed at a big group of people. Given the Filipinos’ love affair with food, it is no wonder that food entrepreneurs have offered us a wide variety of taste-bud-pleasing and tummy-filling choices. From fast food to fine dining; from kiosks to bazaars; from deliveries to eat-all-you-can buffets—there is always a most appropriate format for every occasion, in any place, at any time! Building on the ever-growing food categories, one format is what people may classify as #trending, especially in metropolitan areas: food parks. In my personal experience, food parks have been sprouting left and right in Quezon City, specifically on Maginhawa and Congressional Avenue Extension. Even industry experts have noted the impact of the food park trend. In a Euromonitor category briefing released on May 10, entitled … [Read more...] about Food for the buds: A glance at the food park business trend in the metro

Before conquering the world of business management and finance, Mikee Romero was a varsity basketball player in his junior and senior years at the De La Salle University, where he completed his degree in Management. • Soon after graduation, he opened up a printing press but the business was short lived. He acknowledges his then “weakness in business and finance” that led to the closure of his first venture. • Determined to turn his fate around, Romero took up his Masters Degree in Business Management at the Asian Institute of Managament, which he completed in 1997. • He pursued further studies at the International Academy of Management and Economics-Philippines and De La Salle University, where he earned his two Doctorate degrees in Business Administration and Political Economics in August 2006 and September 2008, respectively, with Academic High Distinction. • Even as he was completing higher education in the field of business and finance, the … [Read more...] about DR. MICHAEL ROMERO, PhD the businessman at a glance

Audi presented a new iteration of the visionary Avant concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. The Audi prologue Avant combines dynamics, form and function in a perfect synthesis. With a length of 5.11 meters, and a width of 1.97 meters, the five-door car, with its pioneering body concept, positions itself clearly in the luxury class. At the same time, it offers unmistakable sportiness and variability. Technology highlight the features of the Avant, both inside and out; with the driver and up to three passengers, able to enjoy a luxurious interior with the convenience of being digitally connected, thanks to a state﷓of﷓the﷓art infotainment architecture and connect technology. The luxurious interior of the Avant is kept in dark shades. The concept car offers a new experience: The straight﷓lined architecture forms one whole with its display and control concept. The consistent front of the dashboard is composed of three touch displays. Moreover, the driver and up … [Read more...] about AUDI AVANT: A glance into the future

BANGKOK — There was not enough time but we were happy with what we glimpsed of Thai arts and culture one afternoon at the 36th Thailand Tourism Festival (TTF) held early last month. The four of us (including Inquirer’s Pam Pastor, Lakad Pilipinas’ travel writer Christian Lucas Sangoyo and blogger Vins Carlos) were invited by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for a four-day look-see of what makes the country “amazing” (as its advertisements describe it). After a two-day countryside tour (more on that later), TAT assistant director Khanittha Phanworawat and our guide Tama Thip-aphorn Thepthewi brought us to Lumphini Park, located just across from the Crowne Plaza where we were billeted. The 58-hectare park, surrounded by the city’s skyscrapers, was transformed into a mini-Thailand filled with beautiful replicas of outstanding landmarks, cultural heritage and the best products from the five major regions (North, South, East, West and Northeast) of the … [Read more...] about Thai arts & culture at a glance

A look at Saturday's crash of Asiana Airlines flight 214 at the San Francisco International Airport: — WHAT HAPPENED: The Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 crashed while landing after a likely 10-hour-plus flight from Seoul, South Korea. The flight originated in Shanghai and stopped in Seoul before the long trek to San Francisco. — PACKED FLIGHT: There were 307 people aboard — 291 passengers and 16 crew members. Two people aboard the plane died. Of the 182 injured people taken to hospitals, at least 49 were in critical condition late Saturday. The remaining 133 had minor to moderate injuries, while many of the other passengers or crew members had more minor injuries that didn't require extra treatment. Thirty of the passengers were children. — PASSENGERS: South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said that the plane's passengers included 141 Chinese, 77 South Koreans, 61 Americans, three Canadians, three from India, one Japanese, one Vietnamese and … [Read more...] about The San Francisco plane crash at a glance

March 2011: Anti-government protests begin in March in the southern city of Deraa following the arrest and torture of teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans on a wall. By July, hundreds of thousands take to the streets. 17 refugees go to Iraq. March 2012: Conflict spreads. Residents of Homs are first to depart in large numbers. 15,639 Syrians in surrounding countries. August 2012: … [Read more...] about Syria’s civil war at a glance

OTTAWA—The European Union parliament approved a trade deal with Canada on Wednesday after three hours of debate and years of negotiations. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union, also known as CETA, was adopted by a vote of 408-254 with 33 abstentions. Here are some facts about the deal: Canada is the EU’s 12th most important trading partner. The EU is Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the U.S. and accounts for nearly 10 per cent of its external trade. The EU has a population of more than 500 million and a nominal GDP of almost $18 trillion. … [Read more...] about Canada-EU trade deal at a glance